Disciple Santiago (1)
"All interference power has been consumed.""[World Jurisdiction] has been lifted.]""The consumed interference power will recover after 12 hours.]"
Entering Santiago's dream must have required a great deal of interference power, because Lee Shin, having exited the dream, returned to the original world.
Sitting in the inner room, Lee Shin was confronted with an overwhelming number of status windows. It seemed the status window had gone into an uproar, saying things like he needed to fight demons and show them what for—apparently this incident had been quite meaningful.
"You have gained sufficient faith and spread sufficient influence across your world. You will become a slightly clearer existence.]""Your existence becomes more distinct.]""Creator LV.1 → LV.2"
The trait's level had increased. For hunters, growth was achieved by entering rifts and slaying monsters, but for Lee Shin, it seemed to happen in this way instead.
While hunters had to risk their lives to level up, Lee Shin could experience it simply by increasing the number of his disciples. If Choi Bom heard about it, the resentment would be plain to see.
There were many other status windows as well. Most of them were labeled as achievement completion rewards. Last time, he had received three interesting abilities as rewards—what kind of rewards would he receive this time?
"Amazing Achievement: First to make a succubus's follower repent in a ruined world.]""Reward: Skill [Mental Barrier]]"
This time, rather than unlocking a new function within an existing skill, he received an entirely new skill. Following Choi Bom's advice, Lee Shin carefully checked its functions.
"Mental Barrier: Protects the mind.]"
It was simple and clear. However, "protects the mind" made it difficult for Lee Shin to understand exactly how it would help.
Still, it would surely be useful. Most of the hardships Lee Shin had experienced in life were related to mental issues. Loneliness, emptiness, isolation, the looks in people's eyes... If he could endure those a bit more easily, it would certainly be a wonderful gift.
"Amazing Achievement: First among the lowest-rank gods to obtain a Hero-rank disciple.]""Reward: 1 Low-grade Enhancement Ticket"
The next reward was a gray ticket that resembled a movie theater ticket. Holding the fluttering ticket, Lee Shin heard a ding and learned the item's function.
[Low-grade Enhancement Ticket: Enhances your disciple. Raises the disciple's soul rank from [Normal Rank] to [Hero Rank]. This item can only be used on [Normal Rank] souls. Consumed upon use.!]
Enhancing a disciple's soul. Lee Shin was reminded of a mobile game his father, Young-hwan, played whenever he had time—a game where you pulled characters with ranks like R, SR, and SSR.
He remembered it vividly because not long ago, his father had secretly spent emergency savings on in-app purchases to pull an SSR-rank character and had gotten smacked on the back by his mother. He had heard that the higher the rank, the stronger and better the character became.
'I don't intend to discriminate against anyone based on things like rank.'
Even back when he was in school, seeing some people rejoice while others were disappointed depending on their test scores had never sat right with him. It would be nice if everyone could smile and enjoy themselves equally every day.
Still, if it was an item he had, it would be better to use it. When it came to the happiness of the residents of this small yet brutal world, what mattered wasn't who became stronger or weaker, but how fairly Lee Shin—who played the role of a god—distributed his love.
'If I don't scold someone for having a low rank or favor someone for having a high rank, then this won't be a source of discrimination—it'll be a gift.'
Not long ago, Lee Shin himself had received a thoughtful gift from the residents of the Red City of Jepet. Returning what one had received was always important, and in that case, it seemed best to give this gift to Eve, who was always working diligently and brimming with motivation.
If her soul rank increased, perhaps her clumsy demeanor would disappear and she'd become more composed. Of course, even if she remained just as clumsy, that in itself was cute, so it didn't really matter.
A Great Achievement appeared after the Amazing Achievement.
Great Achievement: First among the lowest-rank gods to make a demon's follower repent
Reward: Skill [True Justice]
This reward was also a new skill. Lee Shin slowly read through its description.
True Justice: When facing demons, one extremely powerful heavenly blessing is granted at random.
"You are the nemesis of demons."
When facing demons. The sweet dream world created by the succubus Lilith had been more than enough to tempt and draw in people whose motivation had been crushed.
Other demons wouldn't be any less dangerous, and when rescuing those who had fallen for their temptations, a skill like this would surely be of great help.
Lee Shin felt satisfied.
Great Achievement: Among all gods, repenting a demon's follower in the shortest amount of time
Reward: Item [Eternal Protection]
The final reward was an item.
Name: Eternal Protection
Category: Safe Zone
Rank: SS
Restriction: God-exclusive item
Effects: Supreme Physical Defense, Supreme Magical Defense, Poison Immunity, Supreme Resistance to All Attributes ...
Summary: Designates the entire space where the item's owner resides as a safe zone. Ten engraved seals protect those who remain inside. Minor illnesses of those staying here are cured, fatigue is instantly recovered, and vitality overflows.
An item that made everyone nearby safe and healthy. Among all the items he had obtained so far, this was the one Lee Shin liked the most.
The next time he called Choi Bom, he should tell her to stay at his place all weekend. Her ankle might not have fully healed yet. Or maybe it would be better to send it to her by courier?
"Ah, my back feels amazing today!"
"There you go again. You—stop fooling around!"
"Should we try having another late baby—kgh!"
"Hey! Just—stay still!"
…Yeah, sending it by courier wouldn't work.
Watching his father happily claiming that his back had completely recovered, Lee Shin felt a slight pang of guilt for having thought of Choi Bom first again.
Still, he had obtained some truly good items. There was also the armor the dwarves had gifted him, and the [Small but Deadly World] was filled with nothing but things to be grateful for.
However, there was still one reward left.
Achievement: Spreading faith to one city.
Reward: The [Religion] function has been unlocked.
Religion… What kind of function would that be this time?
"You have exerted enormous influence on the world."
"Interference power has increased."
[Current Interference Power: 300]
"Trait level has increased."
"You now recover interference power more quickly."
"Time required for full interference power recovery: 6 hours."
The time required before he could visit the small world again had shortened. With six hours, it was theoretically possible to visit up to four times a day if he stayed up all night.
But he had no intention of ruining his daily life to that extent. Lee Shin was simply happy that he could visit more often and more freely than before whenever he wanted to go.
After checking everything he had gained this time, Lee Shin headed out of the house toward the academy training grounds where Choi Bom was staying. He remembered her telling him to come visit sometime.
There was the grass gift as well, and more than anything, his father—who seemed suspiciously energetic today—had handed him 50,000 won and told him to go out and have fun until late at night. Lee Shin's parents were still deeply affectionate with each other.
"What is this—Lee Shin! You actually came!"
He had been worried she might scold him for showing up without notice, but Choi Bom ran out to greet him with clear delight. She was still wearing her training uniform, covered in sweat and dust.
"You should've called first!"
"Ah, sorry. Was it inconvenient?"
"Ah—no! No! That's not it! I mean, I came straight out in my training uniform without knowing you were coming. If I'd known you were coming, I would've washed up first and tried to look a bit nicer… no, I mean—at least a bit more presentable!"
Choi Bom kept sneaking glances at Lee Shin, worrying whether she might smell of sweat or whether he'd dislike how disheveled she looked.
"So what? You're more than pretty even like this."
"…Really?"
"Of course. How's your ankle?"
"It doesn't hurt at all anymore. They still told me to be careful not to injure the same spot again. Anyway, I really got a proper scolding for going out for two days."
Seeing Lee Shin, Choi Bom chatted away with an excited expression.
The Hunter Academy training grounds, where prospective hunters stayed, was a place with strict limits on freedom. They had to follow a rigid daily schedule, could only use their phones after the day's duties were over, and weren't allowed to leave the grounds unless it was the weekend.
On weekdays, they had to apply in advance for leave or permission to go out, and Choi Bom said she would've done so if she'd known ahead of time, sounding genuinely regretful.
'She must really be having a hard time.'
Looking at her dust- and sweat-covered training uniform, Lee Shin didn't think it was dirty. Instead, he only worried about how much hardship Choi Bom must be enduring, rolling around on bare, muddy ground.
"You said you don't get to eat much good food, right?"
"We get served nothing but that awful soup every day. I'm so sick of it."
"Next time I come, I'll bring fried chicken. No—text me beforehand. Tell me what you want to eat."
"Really? That'd be amazing. When my dad comes to visit, he always brings chicken or pizza. I'm happy just seeing you today, but it's a little sad there's no food, hehe."
I didn't think of that. Lee Shin reproached himself for being clumsy again. Even so, Choi Bom smiled brightly.
"I'm joking! You don't have to bring anything."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Just come more often! Honestly, today's training was pretty tough, but seeing you totally lifted my mood."
Feeling his own mood rise at Choi Bom's bright smile, Lee Shin took out the gift he had received from the dwarves.
"What's this?"
"It's something I got from friends in that world. It looked really sturdy, and I don't have any use for it, so I brought it for you. I looked it up, and they said personal gear like this can be used during training."
"…It looks really expensive."
"If things get tough, you can sell it. Use it however you want."
At Lee Shin's words, Choi Bom shook her head firmly.
"Hmph, I'll never sell it. Even if I end up broke and sleeping on the streets, I'll never sell this."
Choi Bom looked unusually cheerful today. As she chatted away happily, the visitation time was already nearing its end. Lee Shin glanced at his watch, then at the instructor waiting nearby, and noticed the name tag on her chest that read Choi Mi-hee.
She was the instructor Choi Bom had said was giving her a hard time.
"Cadet Choi Bom, the visitation time—"
As Instructor Choi Mi-hee approached, Lee Shin subtly looked her over. At that moment, when their eyes met, Choi Mi-hee felt an inexplicable chill.
It was a strange sensation, as if she were lying completely naked from head to toe, having her innermost thoughts exposed to someone. With emotionless eyes, Lee Shin murmured quietly—so quietly.
"That's a relief. You're truly someone who looks out for the cadets."
"..."
"Please take good care of our Bom from now on."
Rising slowly from his seat, Lee Shin left behind the words he always said to Choi Bom.
"If anything happens, you have to pray. No matter what."
As he left with a reluctant expression, Choi Bom shouted after him.
"I'll pray for you to come again, Lee Shin!"
Lee Shin replied with a gentle smile.
"If you pray like that, then it will happen."
First World.
"Moving to Earth No. 444, [Small but Deadly World]."
Returning to the world of the dwarves, Lee Shin was met with an unexpected sight.
The residents of the Red City of Jepet—who had always been smiling brightly ever since his arrival—were all trembling.
Even Eve looked visibly tense. What was going on?
"O God, O God. You've finally returned."
When he asked what had happened, Eve squeezed her eyes shut and explained the situation facing the Red City of Jepet.
"It seems the persistent pursuers have noticed this city's existence. Before long, enemies will appear to drag all of us away to the workshops…"
Listening to Eve, it was clear this was a serious problem. Should he once again select the [World Interference] action tab and crush everything to solve it? Or should he lay everything out and try having an honest conversation?
TIP: The "Pursuers" who will soon appear are far more powerful beings than the unbelievers you faced before.
TIP: With your current interference power, these enemies cannot be harmed directly.
TIP: These enemies are not ones you can reason with.
The status window shook its head at every solution Lee Shin had thought of. Then… was there truly no way?
Fortunately, the status window always presented the correct answer.
TIP: In principle, the crises of this world are best resolved not by the god stepping in personally, but by the residents of this world themselves.
TIP: The trial of the dwarves must be overcome by the dwarves.
TIP: You possess a disciple with sufficient capability.
At that moment, heavy, dragging footsteps were heard.
"Nothing to worry about, everyone."
At the same time, with a phoo sound, a newcomer disciple appeared—Santiago—exhaling cigarette smoke with a rolled tobacco held in one hand.
"Now that I'm here."
Daring!
Last Monster Hunter of a Ruined World
Name: Santiago
Lineage: Final Monster Hunter
Disciple Rank: Low
Soul Rank: Hero
Overall Evaluation:
A hunter who once enjoyed great fame in his youth. In the past, he was among the top ten strongest in the [Small but Deadly World]. But even heroes cannot escape the passage of time. Time has rusted Santiago's body and skills. Even so, most monsters are still no match for him.
Those who encounter the oldest hunter of the barren lands should not first consider how to fight and win—but how to survive and escape.